Social process and product’s domestication

Heidi Grönman

Abstract

It is well established in literature of domestication studies that homes evolve differently depending on who lives in them and how people negotiate domestic order. Respectively, it is emphasised that social processes play crucial role in domestication of products. This article describes social processes interpreted from data collected in Helsinki area, Finland. The data consists of biographies and photographs of items that interviewees presented as ‘designed functional products’. Emphasis on social processes in domestication studies can be seen as an argument against studies that see consumers as mere passive adapters. The character of consumer might be more versatile. In this article it is proposed that we need to recognise not just active negotiations, but also see passive adoption and indifference as social processes, affecting designed consumer product’s domestication into household.